Drill press

[Dman033189]

I am looking at buying a drill press. And I am hoping to spend around $100. I was wondering if there were any suggestions on a brand. I was looking at one like to the picture.

[enlpck]

IF it is still roughly the same machine we got at job 1 the other year (made in China, et al) the chuck was near useless and needed replacement almost immediately -- broke the scroll(?) that moves the jaws. Put one a decent one and it was MUCH better. The motor is ok. Table rusted rapidly, which is surprising as NOTHING else in the room has a bit of rust (the sheet shear is 30 years old). The table adjustment crank setup is ok, but not great- better than you expect for $100. Belt was ok. Quill has a few thou runout exclusive of the chuck. The original chuck added a bunch more. Bearings are noisy, but smooth enough.

[Paychk]

Dman

What are you planning on drilling? I would suggest looking at the speeds available on that unit and compare that to the speed charts for the material you're drilling. You maybe surprised at how small a hole you can drill in something like mild steel. At the price range you stated most of them are going to be a Taiwan mfg. press, that one is nicer than most.

[Dman033189]

Probably 90% of the time I will be drilling mild steel. Do you have a speed chart for drilling?

[enlpck]

What hole sizes? That drill press only goes down to around 600RPM. Mild steels like around 70 to 100FPM with HSS bits. This gives you a max drill size of about 5/8" or a tad more.

[Sirarcalot]

I would go with a floor standing model, even if it costs more. The small ones don't usually turn slow enough and the tables are harder to clamp to.

[Sirarcalot]

What I mean by harder to clamp to, is that there isn't much room to get clamps and accessories on top of, and under the table. If you buy the small one, it won't be long until you are wishing for a bigger one, unless all of your work is really small.

I have the small $39 HF model and I love it for some small stuff, like pinewood derby cars. But, as expected I got a floor standing model later.

[rusted]

Kind of fuzzy, I can work on a cleaner one if you want it.

FWIW I got a Clarke floor model 13" drill press for $169 @ TSC. I'm very happy with it. If you're doing metalwork, just get the floor model. I went with the cheapest I could find brand new, idea being that I would get something that would work until I can get a mill if that's the direction I want to go. If you get a bench model, you're 2 steps away. :shrug: Just something to think about.

[SDean]

Rusted, Nice drill speed chart. Where'd you find it? I'd like a BIG one to put near my drill press.:)

[Brad-Man]

HF usually has a floor standing model on sale...

I have thier cheap bench model and didn't know what a big difference a better one could make until I borrowed my dad's Ryobi...

Both models claim 1/3 HP but I'll tell you that the Ryobi had a lot more torque. That and the longer stroke allowed me to drill holes through 2" and 2.5" tubing for my car rotisserie without readjusting the height each time.

If you go with an HF and can wait, they had one on sale recently w/a 3/4 horse 16 speed for like $149 - normally $279 and it had an oiler with it!

[Dman033189]

Well thanks guys I might have to go with a floor model. I used a 13" Craftsman of my grandpas today and I liked it I might have to wait a while longer to get a floor model.

[Junk]

Pick up an old used one from some shop that's closing. My old Delta Rockwell cost me $15 and was made in the 50's. It would whoop the pants off anything new under about $800 now. Runs with almost no runout and nice and smooth and quiet.

[Dman033189]

How would I find out about shop closings.

[rusted]

Originally posted by SDean
Rusted, Nice drill speed chart. Where'd you find it? I'd like a BIG one to put near my drill press.:)

It's an ARmy training circular.

TC 9-524

Just search that number, should be able to find a .pdf of it online.

[Sirarcalot]

My floor model was a $99 Homier and works fine, but I have looked at the HF one that sells for $149-179 on sale and it looks better than my Homier (tighter tolerances in the casting and larger motor). Also, Sears new model has some nice features for about $279. I also like the Ridgid from Home Depot.

[rusted]

Dman, I found the link for that manual, it's really good:

http://155.217.58.58/cgi-bin/atdl.dll/tc/9-524/toc.htm

[Dman033189]

Thanks rusted I will look at it.

[Junk]

Dman, to find out about shop closings, just keep an eye out in the local paper for machinery or business oportunity stuff. I avoid public auctions as those haven't gotten me any "deals", but I have gotten some great deals from old dudes closing their shop.

[SDean]

Thanks Rusted

Lots of good info on that site.

[Only2cylinders]

Nice site Thanks

[wintermute]

Those delta bench top units are hands down the worst drill presses I've ever used in my life. I had two of them (different models), neither ran true, the spindles were made of really cheap metal, the head was square to the post on either one. I'd never get one of those again even if it was free. I would look on craigslist for something larger and better. You can find good floor standing drill presses on craigslist for $100. If you get lucky enough, a good old rockwell or 1930's-40's Delta is a good way to go.

--Wintermute